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Support the overextended medical frontline!
Developing a compact PCR testing system

Demand from patients and medical facilities is growing day by day

During the initial stage of the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, PCR testing was only available at regional public health laboratories and designated medical institutions. As such there were increasing calls for PCR testing to be expanded to regional hospitals and clinics. Moreover, as people began to resume their activities in society amid the prevalence of the virus, there was an increasing need for individuals to verify negative infection status to engage in work or continue academic activities. As such, expansion of the PCR testing environment became a pressing social need.

What was needed to support the overextended medical frontline and quickly restore daily life to all was a PCR testing system that could be deployed to small medical facilities, such as neighborhood clinics. The ideal system would be easy to integrate into clinic operations and be convenient to operate for even first-time users. In response, Shimadzu embarked on development of a fully-automated PCR testing system.

Fully-automated PCR testing system: compact, low cost

Four major decisions were taken before development began. One was to base the system on Shimadzu's PCR reagent kit for the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) for ease of testing. In addition, the system had to have the capacity to process four samples with full automation, and furthermore be compact in order to make it useable in environments where space was limited. Shimadzu's existing analytic equipment technology would be utilized to ensure reliability and accelerate development. Finally, manufacturing cost would be kept low to drive adoption. These requirements were met, and a fully automated, desktop PCR testing system was developed in only six months. The system was launched in November 2020, just ahead of the third infection wave in Japan.

Shimadzu also succeeded in keeping the price of the system below two million yen, making it affordable even for medical facilities such as small and mid-size hospitals and clinics. Adoption was further driven by public subsidies. On launch, demand quickly exceeded expectations, and back orders piled up.

Today, more than 2,000 desktop PCR testing systems are in use at medical facilities across Japan. This is of great significance to Shimadzu in view of our desire to continue making contributions to the future of medicine.

Early diagnosis and in-facility (nosocomial) infection risk
Solving a difficult frontline challenge with Mobile X-ray System

Compact mobile X-ray system proves its value

Automated PCR testing is not the only example of Shimadzu's technological contribution to fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Radiography System, a core Shimadzu business, is another facet of our continuing support for the overextended medical frontline. Let's turn back the clock.

In 2003 the SARS virus was ravaging China, and medical facilities were urgently calling for more Shimadzu Mobile X-ray System. Patients with respiratory symptoms need radiographic lung examinations. Due to the highly infectious nature of SARS, mobile equipment was required, so imaging could be carried out in isolation wards and intensive care units without moving patients to an examination room.

The mobile X-ray system, a representative Shimadzu product, was well received for its ergonomic operability, durability under conditions of daily use, and ease of operation. To meet urgent needs on the frontline of medicine, we supplied 24/7 support for installation and operation in environments where infection was an ever-present risk.

In 2005, Shimadzu achieved a breakthrough, becoming first in the world to launch a system using digital detection to verify images immediately upon imaging. This series of Radiography System continues to evolve and enjoys strong user support.

Moreover, 2019 saw the start of another pandemic, one still fresh in our memory. As the virus spread, there was a pressing need for early detection, and orders for mobile X-ray systems poured in from around the world. In response, Shimadzu doubled its production capacity for the needed equipment. At medical facilities, Shimadzu service personnel completed system delivery and handover while exercising the utmost caution to avoid infection.

Shimadzu Radiography system demonstrates its value on the disaster frontline

Shimadzu mobile X-ray imaging units also played an important role in helping victims of China’s 2008 Sichuan Earthquake, which left nearly 90,000 dead or missing. In response, Shimadzu offered assistance to local health authorities, and was requested to supply Radiography system.

Mobile X-ray imaging units are essential for rapid evaluation of bone fractures and head injuries. Along with equipment in the inventory of Shimadzu's local subsidiary, additional Shimadzu equipment was borrowed from a Beijing university hospital and transported to the disaster site. Amid aftershocks and working in the open, Shimadzu service staff reaching the site set up equipment and taught operating procedures to local medical personnel. During a period of over two weeks following the quake, the equipment was used to perform several thousand examinations.